Press 2014

MCI Management Center Innsbruck recently hosted the high-level United Nations Global Compact Conference on Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). The conference also involved the official launch and signing for a PRME chapter for the German-speaking countries. MCI Management Center Innsbruck has again made its mark in the international business management scene. On February 21, in cooperation with the UN Global Compact Office in New York and other prestigious partners, MCI Management Center Innsbruck hosted the international Founding Conference on Responsible Management Education in the German-speaking area. The conference focussed on the six Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), which were developed in 2007 by an international group of university rectors and presidents of leading business schools and academic institutions under the coordination of the UN Global Compact Office of the United Nations. The objective of the PRME initiative is to inspire and champion responsible management education and research worldwide, and assume a pioneering role and establish the demanding principles as the international standard. The MCI was entrusted with the task of hosting the launch conference for the German-speaking world on the basis of its exemplary activities over the last few years.Further information and registrationwww.prme.mci.eduContactUlrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu

The prestigious scientific publishing house makes annual awards for the best Master’s theses in the field of economics. Four MCI graduates were among the winners in 2013 In 2013 the Springer publishing house introduced its Springer BestMasters Award for leading university departments of economics in the German-speaking world. Eligibility is limited to Master’s theses that are awarded the highest possible grade, are written with clarity and rigor, produce results of current relevance and are applicable in the world of business. The following entries from the Entrepreneurial School® satisfied these criteria and received the BestMasters Award from Springerverlag: Jasmin Neuner, Social Work, Social Policy & Management: “Out-of-home Care Provided by Child Welfare Services – Salvation or Trauma? Retrospective Subjective Experience and Assessment of Out-of-home Care on the Part of Young Persons Involved” (in German) Carolin Proft, International Business & Law, “The Interdependencies of Human and Task Integration. Speed and their Joint Effect on the Performance of Mergers and Acquisitions” Daniel Ebner, International Business & Law, “The importance of formal and informal strategic planning. The interdependency between a company’s organization, its performance and its strategic planning” Judith Strobl, Entrepreneurship & Tourism, “The innovative Strength of Family Businesses in Tourism with Reference to Family-run Hotels in Austria” (in German) The prize for the winners comes in the form of free publication of their work in book form.BestMasters_Award_2013_Ausschreibung.pdfSpringer BestMasters ReiheContactUlrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=776}

The Entrepreneurial School® has again been awarded the ECTS Label and the Diploma Supplement Label The European Commission has awarded the MCI not only the prestigious ECTS Label but also the Diploma Supplement Label. The MCI is thus entitled to employ these two major European seals of quality in the years ahead. ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System and guarantees mutual recognition of credits and degrees in Europe. The MCI has received the award from the European Commission for correct and student-friendly application of the system. The ECTS panel was particularly impressed by the easily accessible and clearly structured information provided for students from abroad. Graduates receive the Diploma Supplement together with their final certificates. It provides information on the contents of the completed study program. The supplement comes in a standard format for the whole of Europe and thus facilitates comparison of degrees from different universities at the international level. Those universities that apply this instrument correctly in all respects are awarded the Diploma Supplement Label. The MCI already held these awards in 2009 – 2013. The renewal of the two labels is further confirmation of the MCI’s commitment to the highest standards of work at all times. Dr. Susanne Lichtmannegger, Head of International Relations at the MCI: “The award of the two seals of approval to the MCI is a major achievement for the Entrepreneurial School®. Along with a network of 200 partner universities and a growing number of international students, it is further proof of the international orientation and quality of the MCI.”ContactUlrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=774}

Important step in the development of the Entrepreneurial School® Students studying for a Ph.D. at Innsbruck University will soon be able to join research groups at Management Center Innsbruck (MCI). Similarly, MCI personnel will be able to participate in the University’s research projects. This cooperation agreement, which was signed on Tuesday by Rector Tilmann Märk and Rector Andreas Altmann, promotes the establishment of interdisciplinary research teams combining the strengths of the two partners and consolidates collaboration between the two universities in line with the Campus Tyrol strategy. “The agreement to enable Ph.D. students of Innsbruck University to write their dissertations at Management Center Innsbruck and permit graduates and research staff of the MCI to study for a Ph.D. and join research groups at Innsbruck University is a further significant step towards the goal of closer cooperation between the universities of the Tyrol,” says Tilmann Märk, Rector of Innsbruck University, and he continues: “Our efforts to create a common Campus Tyrol will further increase international awareness for our universities and the Tyrol.” Andreas Altmann, Rector of Management Center Innsbruck, adds: “With this measure, and the creation of research groups and a research infrastructure, and the resulting research output, Management Center Innsbruck is making a meaningful contribution to the scientific and business communities.” Value added, made in Tyrol The agreement provides for closer cooperation with regard to doctoral programs. In future, Ph.D. students from the University of Innsbruck will also be able to do the research required for their dissertations in research groups at Management Center Innsbruck. For its part, the MCI will be making a bigger contribution to research and doctoral programs at Innsbruck University. Ph.D. students will also be able to receive additional tutoring from qualified faculty and research staff at the MCI. The MCI will make the necessary infrastructure available to the Ph.D. students, while all relevant examinations must be taken at or recognized by Innsbruck University, which will also confer the degree. Combining the strengths of two partners “At both universities, the policy of networking and collaboration will permit joint research teams to be set up, combining the strengths of the two partners. That will benefit not only the two universities and Innsbruck and the Tyrol as a knowledge location but also the Ph.D. students themselves,” the rectors explain. “The mode of cooperation developed with the MCI is to be extended to include other Tyrolean universities,” Rector Märk adds. Press release University Innsbruck Statements Brigitte Auer, Head of MCI Quality Management and HR Development:Collaboration on Ph.D. programs with Innsbruck University makes a critical contribution to quality enhancement for our study programs and services and offers our staff attractive opportunities for adding to their academic qualifications. Susanne Lichtmannegger, Director of the MCI’s International Office:Joint mentoring for Ph.D. students enables them to benefit from the strengths of the two institutions and consolidates the position of the MCI at the level of international competition. Bernd Ebersberger, Head of MCI Research Services:Successful regional innovation is often a product of intensive collaboration between higher education establishments embedded in the international flow of knowledge. To that extent, intensive cooperation between Innsbruck University and the MCI makes a key contribution to the long-term success of the Region of the Tyrol as an innovation location. Andreas Altmann, Rector of the MCI:Collaboration on Ph.D. studies is an international expression of an exemplary partnership and a powerful signal for a living culture of cooperation.ContactUwe Steger Office for Public Relations University Innsbruck Telefon: +43 512 507 32000uwe.steger@uibk.ac.at Ulrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=778}

International research study performed by MCI Management Center Innsbruck in cooperation with the University of Waterloo (Canada)According to the results of an international study performed by the University of Waterloo (Canada) and MCI Management Center Innsbruck (Austria), ongoing climate change is a threat to future Olympic Winter Games in many regions. In typical climate change scenarios, past Olympic venues like Vancouver (Canada), Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) or Sochi (Russia) will no longer be able to host such events in the future. Technological progress for protection against the vagaries of the climate The weather can impact the success of Winter Olympics. Unsuitable weather conditions can create problems in the organization and preparatory phase and during the Games themselves. To counter the risks posed by the weather, a number of strategies and technological improvements have been developed in the last few decades. Snowmaking installations, ski jumps with refrigerated tracks and refrigerated bobsleigh runs on the one hand and high-resolution weather forecasting on the other have become critical factors for the success of modern Winter Olympics. But Professor Daniel Scott, Canada Research Chair in Global Tourism and lead author of the study, warns: “Despite technological advances, there are limits to what current weather risk management strategies can cope with. By the middle of this century, those limits will have been surpassed in some former Winter Olympic host regions.” “Today it would be difficult to imagine successfully delivering the diverse Olympic program exclusively on natural snow and ice, as it was in the early decades of the Winter Olympics,” adds co-author Dr. Robert Steiger of the MCI. Core Alpine regions as viable venues for the future The study provides a good opportunity for reflection on the long-term implications of global climate change for sport and the world's collective cultural heritage as symbolized by the Olympic movement. It also reveals that, for some cities and regions interested in hosting future Winter Olympics, the time to bid might be sooner rather than later. Ultimately the study shows that, in the medium- and long-term view of the world’s climate, increasing preference should again be given to traditional Alpine locations to ensure that athletes, organizers and spectators can all benefit from fair and attractive Games in the future.Summary Pressemeldung University of WaterlooContactUlrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=775}

The Entrepreneurial School® has extended its network with leading partner universities in dynamic regions In 2013 MCI Management Center Innsbruck signed cooperation agreements with several more outstanding universities in the fields of student and faculty exchange, research and other activities. That brings the MCI’s international partner network to 200 universities on all continents of the world. A number of existing partnership agreements were also renewed. As of this year, MCI students can choose to spend a semester abroad at the following new partner institutions: Stetson University, Florida, USA: This small-is-beautiful university in Florida offers excellent facilities for economics students. International Academy of Business, Almaty, Kazakhstan: This university in Almaty is the leading business school in Central Asia and is benefiting from today’s dynamic developments in this gas-producing region. Royal Roads University, Victoria, Canada: Originally a Canadian military academy, the Royal Roads University in Victoria (near Vancouver) is now a prominent university in all disciplines and an especially popular partner in the field of tourism. Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel: This leading institution for technology and innovation, which is located in the attractive city of Haifa, is the MCI’s first partner in Israel. For Dr. Susanne Lichtmannegger, Director of the International Office, the additions to the MCI’s partner network are confirmation of the success of the MCI’s consistent focus on quality and internationalization: “The latest agreements signed with such prestigious universities are also a reflection of the MCI’s international standing. With our continuously expanding network of partner unis worldwide, we offer students in both economics and technical study programs excellent opportunities for a meaningful intercultural experience.”Further informationhttp://international.mci.eduContactMag. (FH) Ulrike FuchsLeiterinMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=773}

A further study program development at the Entrepreneurial School®Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) has announced yet another positive development. The Foundation for Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA), which is based in Bonn, has approved the MCI’s application for accreditation for an upgraded Executive Master’s program, which is now designated Master of Science in Management & Leadership and has a new total of 90 European Credit Points (ECTS). The people at FIBAA were so convinced by the new design of the study program that they awarded it the highly coveted Premium Seal, a distinction that has only been conferred on eleven (!) out of a total of over of 1,400 study programs with FIBAA accreditation worldwide. “With this program upgrade, we are responding to the increasing complexity of organizations and the growing demand for quality management,” says a delighted Susanne Herzog, Head of Executive Education at the MCI.ContactUlrike FuchsHeadMarketing & Communication+43 512 2070-1510ulrike.fuchs@mci.edu{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=772}